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Pennsylvania Tall Clock waist support the hood and give this clock stature The base and BY LON NIE BIRD PA RT TWO w: hen you stop to examine the construction of most tall clocks, the jOinery that goes into the case- work really is fairly simple. This clock is no exception. In the previous issue of Fine Woodworking (#171, pp. 60-67), I covered the joinery and the details that go into making the hood, which is the top case of the three stacked boxes that make up this clock and the one that requires the most work. In this issue, I'll explain bow to make the base and the waist-the two cases that support the hood and give this tall clock some of its commanding stature. Compared with the hood, the base and the waist are quite simple in construction. Build from the bottom up Start with the base, and begin by dovetailing the bottom to the case sides. Because the bottom of the base is not visible in the completed clock, I used less-expensive poplar rather than figured maple, the primary wood. When laying out the dovetails, allow room for the rabbet that accepts the back of the clock. The back, also made of poplar, will not be attached to all three cases until the very end-after all of the finishing has been completed, the movement installed, and the doors hung. For the face frame of the base, lay out and cut the mortises on the stiles, then cut the tenons on the top and bottom rails to fit. Before gluing together the face frame, cut the decorative curved corners on the top rail that correspond with the front panel that will be added later. The outside rabbeted edges of that panel will cover the inside edges of the face frame, so you don't 76 FI WOODWORKING Photos, Rodney Diaz